Guest View: Chairman of the Ionia County Republican Party 'Thankful for a fantastic experience'

Monday

Jan 13, 2014 at 9:13 PMJan 13, 2014 at 9:13 PM

In January 2012, four years after my retirement from Fasco Motors in Eaton Rapids, my wife “suggested” it was time for me to find something to do. She was right. There was no room in our field for any more colorful bird houses, and the solitaire game on my computer was starting to repeat itself. My wife’s suggestion led me to the Ionia County Republican Party and now, after two years of warm fellowship and meaningful volunteer work, I’m looking forward to even more.

Robert Van Lente Chairman of the Ionia County Republican Party

In January 2012, four years after my retirement from Fasco Motors in Eaton Rapids, my wife “suggested” it was time for me to find something to do. She was right. There was no room in our field for any more colorful bird houses, and the solitaire game on my computer was starting to repeat itself. My wife’s suggestion led me to the Ionia County Republican Party and now, after two years of warm fellowship and meaningful volunteer work, I’m looking forward to even more.

It’s no surprise that joining a political party fit my personality. My interest in civic affairs began in my teen years as a Junior (George) Romney Volunteer in Muskegon and continued into early adulthood when I helped lead a group to prevent a steel mill from building on the southern shore of Muskegon Lake. Later, as part of a “new-blood” majority on the City Commission, my vote helped pass a land use plan that has changed the Muskegon Lake shoreline from its rusting industrial past to a vibrant residential, commercial and recreational asset.

I spent the following decades on the sidelines while focusing on a career in the automotive industry. My jobs in industrial engineering, planning, major capital projects, then sales & marketing at a series of four automotive suppliers in Michigan, Pennsylvania, Maryland then back to Michigan required long hours and a lot of domestic and foreign travel. My interest in civics endured, but there was little time for outside interests.

So it was natural for me to get involved in politics again. And Google took me to the website of the Ionia County Republican Party where I learned how to find the next meeting. But it’s intimidating to walk in to a roomful of strangers isn’t it? Who are they? How do they do whatever it is they do?

Well, to avoid entering a room full of strangers, get there early! So on the third Thursday that February I drove to Ionia, parked, entered the stately Ionia County Courthouse and climbed the stairs to the third floor meeting room. The only person there was Phil Goodrich, the party’s County Chairman, who was laying out the night’s agenda and preparing his papers for the meeting.

He saw me enter. There was no turning back!

Phil stopped what he was doing. We introduced ourselves and he welcomed me to the meeting. He handed me a copy of the agenda and I found a place to sit. Others arrived and were equally gracious in our introductions. Some took a seat at the table, and some joined me in the audience. Later it became clear that they were all members of the county party and members of its Executive Committee.

That night the group was planning the party’s annual membership drive and spring Lincoln Day Dinner – the major of three fundraising events held each year. My first impression? Nice people, interesting agenda. So far, so good. I jumped right in and volunteered to join the Fundraising Committee and to work on the post card and printed program for that year’s Lincoln Day Dinner.

That assignment worked out and grew to my designing the postcards and printed programs for the next two years for the Lincoln Dinner, the Ionia Free Fair Tent Dinner, the Fall Rally and the election year ads. And there was other work to solicit sponsors, set up events, walk in five area parades, and staff the GOP booth at the Free Fair plus at community expos in Ionia, Belding and Portland. In addition I was able to attend state conventions and to work in a precinct and at state headquarters on election-day operations.

There was also campaign work available. I was privileged to work a day or two each week “knocking doors” in the 2012 primary and general elections for Tom Leonard who now represents the 93rd District in the Michigan House, and for Rick Outman, serving the 70th district that once include Ionia. And I’ve met many county and state officials who to me were previously just names in the news.

While this work was fulfilling enough, imagine my gratitude when the committee elected me to be chairman for the years 2013 and 2014! What followed was patient mentoring from Phil and the returning officers Georgia Sharp (Vice Chair), Miranda Sharp (Treasurer) and Will Wagner (Secretary); a crash course in Roberts Rules of Order; and learning the party’s structure and bylaws. And we got some nice work done.

In addition to conducting our annual events and activities, we expanded and modernized our member database and mailing list and we introduced performance metrics to challenge ourselves to do better each year. And it was an honor to work on Jimmy King’s campaign for Ionia City Council. This year we plan to improve our website and expand our Facebook audience and explore other ways to use social media to improve our party. And we may start a project that reaches out to Ionia’s youth.

Thank God for my wife’s suggestion! I’m now busy working every day with some wonderful people with shared values.

And I encourage anyone who has ever thought about joining the Ionia County Republican Party - or who thinks about it now - to give it a try.

Robert Van Lente is Chairman of the Ionia County Republican Party. The Ionia County Republican Party holds its meetings at 7 p.m. on the third Thursday of every month at the Emergency Services, Central Dispatch Building, 545 Appletree Drive, Ionia. The meetings are open to anyone interested in the Republican Party.

Never miss a story

Choose the plan that's right for you.
Digital access or digital and print delivery.